Marten to begin automatic detention pay after 1 hour

Beginning in June, Marten drivers will receive automatic detention pay on all loads after just one hour.

The Trucker News Services

4/21/2014

MONDOVI, Wis. — Marten Transport, a Wisconsin-based carrier, has changed its automatic driver detention pay program to compensate drivers after one hour.

“At Marten, we’re constantly looking at what our drivers need,” said Tim Norlin, director of recruiting for Marten Transport. “When we first implemented our automatic detention pay for drivers a few years ago, we wanted a way to be able to compensate our drivers for their time.This change to the program that starts paying out to drivers after an hour of waiting is just one more way we can show our drivers how much we value their time and what they do.”

Beginning in June, Marten drivers will receive automatic detention pay on all loads after just one hour. In order to receive this additional pay, drivers must follow the company’s detention policy, which includes arriving on time for pick up or delivery; sending the appropriate macros; and the arrival and release times documented on the paperwork. If drivers are not loaded or unloaded within an hour, their detention pay begins automatically. The hourly rate for hour 1-2 will be $10 per hour, paid in 15-minute increments. The second hour of wait time and on will be paid the normal automatic detention rate of $20 per hour. Marten plans to increase the first hour rate in September by at least $2 and will eventually bring the pay up to $20 per hour to match the rest of the automatic detention pay.

Marten rolled out its unprecedented automatic detention pay program in 2011 with great success. The company started by paying drivers $10 per hour and eventually raised the payout to $20 per hour once it obtained detention charges from customers. Today, Marten is the only carrier in the industry that pays its drivers $20 per hour in detention pay and one of the few that pays it automatically.

To work for Marten, drivers must have a CDL-A with hazmat endorsement, be at least 22 years of age and have a minimum of one year OTR experience. Drivers at Marten can expect competitive pay corresponding with experience level, frequent home time, premium benefits, quality equipment and unmatched care for their success.